My religion is very simple. My religion is kindness.

Dalai Lama

Friday, October 17, 2008

Ol Gramp

That's my grampa off to the left there with the long blond hair holding a bag of feed surrounded by sheep. The family tells me that there wasn't money for hair cuts, but I am sure my great gramma, who we called Big Gramma, had some scissors. But then times were hard then, unlike anything we know now.

Ol Gramp, that is what he calls himself now, is 90 years old. He asked me when I am going to stop working. I say about the time he does. At 90 he is making furniture. He has worked since he was a young boy. He didn't finish grade school because he had to work the farm to keep it going. I really don't know if he ever got a high school diploma, but he is the most astute business man I have ever met.

These days he makes observations about life and asks me why somebody isn't doing it. I tell him because it doesn't make money.

He thinks that restaurants that throw away food should be donating it to the hungry and the hungry or liberals should not be grumbling about it. This country has seen times where people have stood in lines for food. This world still sees people in lines waiting for food today. It is a simple move that could work and make a difference.

He dislikes the health care system, though he has benefited from science and the doctors in the medical field. It is the insurance and Medicare/Medicaid system that is corrupt. And probably a few doctors that should get their asses kicked.

He thinks it is crazy that the houses around him are being sold for one million dollars. He bought his first house for $1500. It was a Kit Home from Sears. I imagine the land was given to them from one of the families maybe my gramma's. He doesn't know how his great great grandchildren are going to be able to buy a house when they grow up.

He worries about leaving us in this mixed up world.

I don't worry about it, I know he will be with me. I have a little grandson, who I was telling one day about how I walked to school when I was a little girl. I didn't take the bus. I walked a long way and sometimes in the snow. My grandson said to me, "Yeah, I know, Gramma, I was with you".